Thatcher death: Munchkin actors condemn use of song

ACTORS who played Munch­kins in The Wizard Of Oz film have condemned the use of the song Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead to celebrate the death of Margaret ­Thatcher.

Ruth Duccini, 94, and Jerry Maren, 91, who played the diminutive characters in the 1939 Judy Garland film, said they were “shocked” and “ashamed” by the revival of the song, which was originally sung by the Munchkins after a house landed on, and killed, the Wicked Witch of the East.

The BBC’s Radio 1 Chart Show will not play the entire song today, despite thousands of anti-Thatcher protesters downloading the track in an attempt to get it to number one.

Duccini, who lives in Las Vegas, said: “Nobody deserves to be treated in such a way. When we were filming the movie, no one intended it to be used in this way. I am ashamed. I really am.”

Maren, who lives in Los Angeles, said: “It is shocking that the song is being used to celebrate the death of someone. Thatcher was a great lady and I’m sad she has passed away.”

Meanwhile former Conservative MP Louise Mensch urged her Twitter followers to buy the 1979 punk song I’m in Love with Margaret Thatcher by the Notsensibles, which was last night at number six in the iTunes Store top 10 UK songs.